Elvis’ Italian Discography: The EP′s

By Bob Pakes

Welcome to the Complete Discography of the very collectible Elvis Presley EP’s that were released by RCA Italy!

There were quite a few different pressings of each title, and the differences were sometimes so minor, it’s hard to tell them apart. The goal of this topic is to collect all titles/pressings in one place, and it will remain ‘a work in progress’ until all known Italian EP pressings have been collected here.

There was so much creativity in the Elvis catalog back then. USA, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Australia… Each country had their own release schedule and art department, it seems (far away from the supervision of that grumpy Colonel).

I personally only collect German and US releases (just to keep expenses within the budget) but I just love all these foreign releases finally being done justice with great posts like this. Keep ’em coming, great to see!

Always loved these foreign records from around the world. The art work is sometimes so much better and they used differant photos, so much better than the onces were are so used to seeing. The US sleeves are pretty lousy in some cases. But just dig the sleeve for the Rock’n’Roll EP with the b&w shot from the rehearsal fron the Steve Allen Show, quality!!!!

I have contacted the Italian connection after this topic went online, and Marco (Bruno’s friend and co-owner of the Italian Collector’s Club) has offered his help with filling out the missing dates (year and month of release).

He also mentioned he had some rare Italian promo EP’s that he was willing to share with us.
We’ll have to wait and see how things will work out!

Sounds good Bob. As I said an Excellent topic. A lot Elvis records from Italy, Spain, Japan, Chile etc had amazing covers in comparison to the USA, UK and the Colonel‘s product.
Looking forward to the rest of this series.

I find it nonsens to hail many of the foreign releases over the original
U.S. issues from the 1950s to the early 60s. Quality wise the American
ones are far superior in detail and color on the photos used for 45s
and albums covers. I love the Japanese releases…but most colors are
way off. Either too much yellow, red or orange is used in presenting
Elvis’s facial looks. Not to mention the poor use of paint and brush
‘touch up’ by the Japanese Victor Art-dept. I don’t know if it was done
deliberate, but Elvis on his Japanese record releases, looks more Asian
like, than the white male from North America that he was for 42 years.

And let’s stop knocking the old colonel for everything that went wrong
during Elvis his carreer. Sticking to the record releases: did Elvis once
got involved in the artistic side of presenting him on the cover of
his record releases?! Nope. He didnt give a damn. He could have, like
The Beatles did, early on in their carreer. Did Elvis ever came up with
an idea what design could be used, or which photograph would be ideal
for an album cover? His album covers from the 70s, with two or three
exceptions, are a frikking joke. A jumpsuit salad impossible to digest.

Ger, a lot of the covers from foreign countries used different artwork and looked better. Some of the USA and British ones were good but some were grim and not so good. I know some Japanese and Mexican ones made Elvis out to be a local boy.
A lot of the fifties and early sixties covers are superb. The Rock ‘n’ Roll EP is a perfect example of that.

Yes, mon ami Jim, I know , many countries used different designs for
theie record covers. I may be old, but not totally blind. And indeed, some
are outstandingly good. Still, in my opinion that has a lot to do with the
fact we discovered the Italian, Japanese and ones from Spain, some
20 years after the original US editions had become so much part of our
lives. And those we knew through and through… With internet, and
collectors such as Chris Giles, we became aware of the many rare ones
from various countries. They looked fresh and ‘loud’ compared to the
ones we had known for so long. But they often did use the same
photographs, but set against a different background, with bold lettering,
eye catching colors, etc.
These ‘foreign’ covers would, in many cases, not have worked for the U.S.
market at the time. And that’s why I feel the colonel picked the right
photos and designs for the American teen-market.
And with the exception of the Italian Rock n Roll and I Need You So EP covers
none bettered the originals from a commercial point of view. And that’s
what it was all about: sales !
Did the Japanese, Italians, etc, ever betterd the first 2 albums, Golden Records 2,
The fold out Christmas and A Date With Elvis albums? I don’t think so.
But I’m the first to applause the different approaches in design from many
a country at the time. They give us the opportunity to make the topics we’re
doing here on Echoes.
Jim, I know you drool over the 10 inch from Chile… so did I when I first laid eyes
on that mini album. But can you imagine such crude artwork and cheap printing
used for the North American market, back in the 50s?! I cant.

Yeah Ger, the albums you’ve mentioned, the 1st two, Golden Records 2, the fold-out christmas LP and A Date With Elvis, i agree, they were never bettered. Maybe i’m wrong, but i would imagine that those album covers were designed with very little Colonel imput. I can’t see the colonel coming up with sleeves as creative as those.

You are right Ger. The ones we are familiar with get treatedas just another record apart from a handful of favourites. So when we see what the other countries have we think they are better. some are but not all. A case of the grass is greener elsewhere.
that Chile 10″ is still fantastic.lol.

Hi Guys, Are you gonna put the Release Dates by ALL these EP’s ?
I think the Italian Discography that came out some years back was the best Discography I have ever seen on a Specific Country – as with all works of this kind nothing can ever be 100% & I did have some Dated EP’s that weren’t noted – Rather than send what you already may have, if you can Date those showing I can dig out some of the others I have, the more, the merrier..

I agree with Ger, I´ve been collecting Elvis on vinyl from around the world for 40 years, stop knocking the original USA releases, colors and sleeves are fab, there´s nothing like holding a copy of EP 1254 for the first time, it´s like holding history in your hands.
TCE Laurence, in Northern Ireland.

Anyone interested in an Italian production with and RCA license? Amando Curcio Editore.

Elvis picture and name on cover. Also the words Super Star. Twelve pages of Elvis life history in Italian. The only English is on the record label naming the songs and all the credits, “Elvis Presley ’56 How a Legend Was Born.”